I don't want to leave Ireland

but sad to say we will be tomorrow.  We are in delightful Cork today after leaving our little cottage on the sea and between the Mugillicuddy Wreeks and the Slieve Mish Mountains this morning.  The sun was shining was on the mountains and it was glorious when we drove out.  We had a wonderful time there.  Of the last couple of days we spent one in Kenmare and then on the Beara Peninsula.  Maree our niece had recommended we go here and she was dead right.  Not as well known as Kerry and Dingle but every bit as beautiful and not as many tourists.  My favourite part of any drive here is when we go over the mountain passes.  The scenery is breathtaking and we love it.  On the Beara Peninsula you drive along the top of the ridge and can look both ways down green valleys and it was just gorgeous.  I was reading an article about Maureen O'Hara the other day and she lives here.  Probably most of you might not know who Maureen O'Hara is and I probably should not have mentioned that little fact.

My favourite pass was the Gap of Dunloe just out of Killarney.  We shared an extremely narrow road with horse and carts and walkers and other cars and trucks.  Sometimes we had to stop to see where the road went it was so steep but oh so beautiful with the mountains all around, waterfalls, THE most amazing valleys. 

Yesterday we went to Tralee and had some time in that little town and then drove along the northern coast of the Dingle Peninsula.  Once again wonderful green views of coast and mountains.  We have been surprised at the beautiful beaches here.  Very near to where we were living was the Inch Strand - a seven kilometre beach.  It's been unseasonally cold here so no swimming for us but lots of others were swimming. 

We have had a lovely day in Cork just wandering around the shops and picking up some last minute pressies.  Tomorrow we will go down to Cobh (pronounced Cove) where the Titanic sailed from before it sank and also the emigrants from Ireland after the famine left from.  So that should be interesting.  We fly to Heathrow tomorrow afternoon and after a couple of days in KL on the way home will arrive home late Wednesday night. 

Hope you have enjoyed our blog.  I keep it mainly as a diary but if you have enjoyed it too we are happy to share our travelling days.  This has been a wonderful trip and we would recommend this way of travelling.  Staying a week in each place has been really wonderful and we arrive at the end of our holiday fresh and relaxed.  Mind you the trip back to Australia will fix that.  We could easily keep going but can't really ignore our responsibilities for too much longer. 

Cheers everyone.  See you back in Australia - which is still, by the way, the best country in the world!!!!!